Sheffield United have handed Leicester City an improved £8 million offer as they continue their efforts to sign Harry Souttar.
The Blades have been pursuing the Australian international throughout the summer as part of their quest to strengthen their defensive options after Chris Wilder admitted that Mark McGuinness was not part of his first team plans for the upcoming season.
Fresh Push Made
Souttar has been coveted by his former loan club for some time, but has also been of interest to other Championship clubs, in the form of West Ham United, Wrexham and one of his former sides in Stoke City.
While it was believed that financial restrictions may have scuppered Sheffield United’s hopes of making a move, it has now since emerged that the club have now ramped up their pursuit, with Pete O’Rourke revealing that they have lodged a bid of around £8 million to try and get a deal over the line.
Souttar has already admitted that he would like to try and explore other opportunities to incoming Foxes boss Russell Martin, who has been tasked with trying to bring City back into the Championship.
The 27-year-old has already seen action this season, playing all 90 minutes in Leicester’s EFL Cup win over Northampton Town, marking just his third appearance for the club since returning from his stint at Bramall Lane at the end of 2024.
A £10 million price tag has previously been placed on the centre-back, which was revealed after the East Midlands club knocked back an initial loan-to-buy approach from United.
Deal Needed, But At The Right Price
With Chris Wilder already kicking Mark McGuinness to the wayside ahead of the Championship season, Sheffield United are very short of options in their defence should any injuries strike.
Already a previous favourite in South Yorkshire, and given his willingness to leave Leicester City, Harry Souttar makes for the ideal target this summer, and despite previous indications that a price may be too steep for the buying club, they have now come back into the fold with a new bid.
While £8 million is still short of previously reported valuations, it is at a level which may bring further negotiations from Leicester, and is certainly a positive step towards resolving this particular transfer saga.
However, should there be a further increase in pricing, then United may be wary of matching that demand, considering that there are still some other holes that need to be fixed within the Blades squad.
A left winger is particularly of concern, and with Gus Hamer on his way out to rejoin Coventry City, finding a proven, promising option to fill his boots is pivotal in order to try and get the whole attack performing this season.
Receiving a handsome £6 million fee from the Dutchman’s sale will go a long way to getting Souttar back through the door, but it is imperative that it does not compromise any future deals.
